Order II. PASSERES. 



Tribe II. Tenuirostres. 



Family V. Certhim;, 



The sixth Subfamily, 



ORTHONYCINiE, or Mohouas 



have the Toes long and very strong ; the outer toe nearly as long as the middle one, and united slightly 

 at the base ; the hind toe moderate and very strong ; the Claws remarkably long, strong, slightly curved, 

 and acute. 



Orthonyx Temm.* 



Bill rather short, and nearly straight, with the culmen elevated at base, and curved to the tip, which 

 is slightly emarginated ; the sides compressed, and the lateral margins slightly curved ; the gonys 

 moderate and ascending ; the gape furnished with weak bristles ; the Nostrils basal, and placed in a 

 broad groove, partly closed by a membrane, leaving the opening exposed. Wings short and rounded, with 

 the fourth quill nearly as long as the fifth and sixth, which are equal and longest. Tail long and broad, 

 with the shaft of each feather prolonged beyond the web, and rather strong. Tarsi strong, longer 

 than the middle toe, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes moderate and strong ; with the outer 

 toe nearly as long as the middle one, and united at the base ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws 

 long, very strong, compressed, and acute. 



The species of this division are found in the islands of the South Seas, and also in New Zealand. They are usually- 

 observed climbing the trunks of trees, while searching for their food, which chiefly consists of small insects, although 

 they occasionally feed on minute seeds. 



1. O. spinicauda Temm. PL col. 428. — Orthonyx maculatus 

 Steph. ; O. Temminckii rig. 6f Horsf. 



2. O. ochrocephala (Gmel.) — Muscicapa ehloris Forst. Desc. 

 Anim. p. 87., Icon. ined. 157. ; Certhia heteroclites Quoy fy Gaim. 



Voy.de l'Astr. Ois. t. 17. f. 1. ; Orthonyx icterocephalus Lafr. 

 Mag. de Zool. 1840, Ois. t. 8. ; Mohoua hua Less. ; Type of Mohoua 

 Less. (1837.) 



* M. Temminck established this genus in 1820. Mohoua of M. Lesson (1837) is synonymous. 



October, 1847. 



